Help with new system configuration

Hello.

I bought my last system about 6 years ago, and it still run very well today with a few upgrades here and there. I'm telling you this because at that time this website was of real value to me, as it helped me chose the right things to buy as a hardcore gamer.

However meanwhile I was somehow not interested for a few years in what is happening in the desktop market and now I came back to get information again because I am preparing to buy components for a new machine.

After two days of reading I must say I am very confused as there are way too many choices to make and it is very unclear to me which technology goes with which and so on. However, I was able to pick something here and there, but I really need your advice on what to pick next.

So here is what I came up with so far:

CPU : Intel E8500 - I am more interested into gaming stuff and from the charts presented here it works well even above some quad cores

Graph: Saphire HD 4870 1GB memory PCI-E

A 550w power supply with case from antec will also do.

Now here is where confusing starts for me:

1. Should I go for a DDR3 Mo/Bo or should I stick with DDR2 for now?

2. Based on the answer on point 1, which chipset should I go for and which vendor?

(also pls take into consideration that I always want do do a bit of OC on a new system and that I am totally NOT interested in water cooling systems)

Thanks.

Can't bloody edit anything!

that should be cost [colon] performance, not a stupid little face!

Welcome to the forums!

^+1.
If you want to go for Crossfire get a X38/X48 chipset.
If you want SLI, get a 750i/780i chipset.

If you have enough money, go for i7.

X38 is the high end chipset from the previous generation of intel chipsets. It supports 2 graphics card slots running at full speed which can be used to run an AMD crossfire system. P45 is the current generation (for socket 775 ie core2 and P4) mainstream/enthusiast chipset.

You got it! There are (I think) a couple of other differences, but noothing of concern.

Thanks for the link. Well the only confusing thing is that one has 2 x PCI Express 2.0 (x38/x48), and the other one has 1 x PCI Express. Now I understand that the 2 slots are needed for running a crossfire configuration, but what does the 2.0 at PCI-E means? Can I run a last generation video card like the one I mentioned above in a PCI-E slot without being version 2.0?

A, ok, all clear to me now, thanks again a lot for help. I will now proceed with searching for a good motherboard with p45

I7 is getting cheaper. I wld go i7 seeing as how the i7 is faster and same relative price as core 2 quad. Plus i7 is way OC capable.